Abu Qatada has been described as al Qaida’s spiritual leader in Europe, the most significant extremist preacher in the UK and “a truly dangerous individual”.

In the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, Qatada has challenged and thwarted every attempt by the Government to detain and deport him.

Here is a timeline of key events in his long-running battle against deportation.

1993

September 16: The Jordanian father-of-five, real name Omar Mahmoud Mohammed Othman, claims asylum when he arrives in Britain on a forged passport.

1994

June: He is allowed to stay in Britain.

1995

March: Qatada issues a “fatwa” justifying the killing of converts from Islam, their wives and children in Algeria.

1998

May: He applies for indefinite leave to remain in Britain.

1999

April: He is convicted in his absence on terror charges in Jordan and sentenced to life imprisonment.

October: The radical cleric speaks in London advocating the killing of Jews and praising attacks on Americans.

Terror suspect Abu Qatada arrives at his London home after leaving Long Lartin high security prison in Evesham, Worcestershire

2001

February: He is arrested by anti-terror police over an alleged involvement in a plot to bomb Strasbourg Christmas market. Officers find him in possession of £170,000 in cash, including £805 in an envelope marked “For the mujahedin in Chechnya”.

December: Qatada becomes one of Britain’s most wanted men after going on the run from his home in Acton, West London.

2002

October: He is arrested by police in a council house in south London and detained in Belmarsh high-security jail.

May: Qatada is granted bail by the immigration tribunal but told he must stay inside for 22 hours a day.

June: He is released from Long Lartin jail in Worcestershire and moves into a four-bedroom £800,000 home in west London.

November: He is rearrested after the Home Office tells an immigration hearing of fears he plans to abscond.

December: Qatada’s bail is revoked by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) after hearing secret evidence that the risk of him absconding has increased.

2009

February 18: In a landmark judgment, five Law Lords unanimously back the Government’s policy of removing terror suspects from Britain on the basis of assurances from foreign governments. It is ruled he can be deported to Jordan to face a retrial on the terror charges.

February 19: Qatada is awarded 2,800 euro (£2,500) compensation by the European Court of Human Rights after the judges rule that his detention without trial in the UK under anti-terrorism powers breached his human rights.

Abu Qatada arrives at his London home after leaving Long Lartin high security prison in Evesham, Worcestershire

2012

January 17: European judges rule that the firebrand cleric can be sent back to Jordan with diplomatic assurances but he cannot be deported while “there remains a real risk that evidence obtained by torture will be used against him”.

February 6: Siac rules he can be released on bail, despite posing a risk to national security.

April 17: The cleric is arrested as the Government prepares to deport him to Jordan, with Siac president Mr Justice Mitting saying Home Secretary Theresa May has secured assurances from Jordan that it will “bend over backwards” to ensure Qatada receives a fair trial.

October 10: Qatada’s appeal hearing, which will test the assurances offered by Jordan, is heard by Siac president Mr Justice Mitting, Upper Tribunal judge Peter Lane and Dame Denise Holt.

November 12: Siac allows his appeal on the grounds that the Secretary of State failed to convince the judges that there was no real risk that statements said to be obtained under torture could be used against him in a retrial. Mr Justice Mitting also grants Qatada bail. The Home Secretary immediately announces plans to appeal against the decision and tells the Commons.

December 11: It emerges that Qatada has been moved to a larger residence in the greater London area. Mr Cameron and the King of Jordan reaffirm their determination to find a way of securing Qatada’s deportation.